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July 31, 2006

Amnesty Isn't Such a Bad Idea

New polling by the Manhattan Institute suggests that voters are so anxious to find long-term solutions to the problems of illegal immigration that some form of amnesty would be politically viable. TAMAR JACOBY in the L.A. Times.

Posted by Marc Cooper at 06:17 PM | | TrackBacks (0)

California Prison Crisis: Hopeless?

Prison reform in the country's largest state is now seemingly at the top of every California politician's agenda. But why are we only hearing the same tired non-solutions of the last two decades asks BARBARA CHRISTIE in the weblog of the California Progress Report.

Posted by Marc Cooper at 06:13 PM | | TrackBacks (0)

Colorado Governor Inks Anti-Immigrant Package

Colorado Gov. Bill Owens has signed a tough package of immigration laws on Monday that could force 1 million people receiving state and federal benefits to prove they are legal U.S. residents. STEVEN K. PAULSON for the AP.

Posted by Marc Cooper at 06:10 PM | | TrackBacks (0)

Ohio Workers Shaken by Immig Crackdown

Undocumented workers in the booming Ohio construction industry are alarmed by this political season's tough talk on immigration. DAN SEWELL reports for AP.

Posted by Marc Cooper at 06:08 PM | | TrackBacks (0)

NAFTA Drives Illegal Immigration

The collapse of Mexican corn farming thanks to free trade policies is helping to spur illegal immigration. MONICA CAMPBELL and TYCHE HENDRICKS in the S.F. Chronicle.

Posted by Marc Cooper at 06:05 PM | | TrackBacks (0)

July 27, 2006

SF Chron: Time for Real Prison Reform

California's governor and its legislature ought to start taking seriously the notion of prison reform -- starting with revision of the Three Strikes Law, says an editorial in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Posted by Marc Cooper at 06:26 PM | | TrackBacks (0)

House Repubs: 19 Immigration Hearings

U.S. House Republican leaders say they would hold 19 hearings around the country through August to build support for tough border security measures to curb illegal immigration. -- Reuters. Immigrant groups are now split on supporting the Senate version of the bill says ANUSHKA ASTHANA in the Washington Post.

Posted by Marc Cooper at 06:21 PM | | TrackBacks (0)

July 26, 2006

"They Wanted All Blacks Out"

An ongoing hate crime trial in Los Angeles exposes a harrowing spate of Latino-Black gang warfare. CHRISTINE PELLISEK in L.A. Weekly.

Posted by Marc Cooper at 10:08 PM | | TrackBacks (0)

DOJ Pushes for Eavesdropping Approval

Senior Justice Department and intelligence officials are urging Congress to approve new laws to accommodate the government's controversial warrantless eavesdropping program. WALTER PINCUS in the Washington Post.

Posted by Marc Cooper at 09:01 PM | | TrackBacks (0)

Conservatives Poke Schwarzenegger on Immigration

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has distanced himself from the White House on immigration policy. But he may have also estranged himself from the conservative Republican base. CARLA MARINUCCI writes about it on her SFChron weblog.

Posted by Marc Cooper at 08:39 PM | | TrackBacks (0)

In Solitary at Pelican Bay

With more than 1,200 inmates, the Security Housing Unit at Pelican Bay State Prison in northern California is one of the largest and oldest isolation units in the country. Reporter LAURA SULLIVAN now takes us behind the locked doors. Listen to her reports on NPR.

Posted by Marc Cooper at 08:33 PM | | TrackBacks (0)

Nat'l Guard on the Border: Insignificant Impact

National Guard units have taken up postings on the Southwest border. But "twelve years of stepped-up border enforcement has not stopped illegal immigration from Mexico, and this latest effort seems poised to repeat the familiar pattern of action and reaction." So says DANIEL B. WOOD in The Christian Science Monitor.

Posted by Marc Cooper at 08:05 PM | | TrackBacks (0)

Minutemen Spending Spree

The Minutemen have raised some big bucks over the past year. But no one knows seems to know exactly how much nor, more importantly, where it all went. JERRY SEPER reports in the Washington Times.

Posted by Marc Cooper at 07:50 PM | | TrackBacks (0)